The LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community had a large victory when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June of 2015, but there are still many areas where this community is lacking basic human rights. There are bills being put into place that at their most extreme permit open discrimination against any member of the LGBTQ community in matters far beyond marriage. These "religious freedom" laws enacted in North Carolina and Mississippi will allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. Tax-payer funded faith-based organizations can: refuse to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples for provision of critical services including emergency shelter; deny children in need of homes placement with LGBTQ families including the child's own family member; and refuse to sell or rent a for-profit home to an LGBTQ person -- even if the organization receives government funding. Additionally, schools, employers, and service providers could refuse transgender people access to appropriate sex-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity.

These discriminatory laws will impact the entire LGBTQ community, and may come as a double blow to those in that community who are homeless and food insecure. Youth who have been kicked out of their homes for "coming out" can (and have been) denied shelter. And those "abled-bodied adults without dependents" who have been affected by the recent cuts in SNAP could be denied food from food pantries. The most recent study concerning the LGBTQ community and food insecurity is from 2014 and found that "more than 1 in 4 LGBT adults, approximately 2.4 million people, experienced a time in the last year when they did not have enough money to feed themselves or their family" in the United States. Given these "religious freedom" laws that are poorly veiled attempts at outright discrimination against certain groups, these numbers could rise. Furthermore, other marginalized groups could become affected. Religion could be used by any individual or organization to not only justify discrimination against LGBTQ people but groups like single mothers, unwed couples and others. Another outcome, such as allowing business owners to ban the LGBTQ community from their premises, could also heighten or increase a person's level of food insecurity.

Food access organizations such as food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens are an enormous help to individuals and families who struggle to make ends meet. The voices of these organizations should join those that are fighting for social justice and equal access to services under the law. The pressure from large companies caused Georgia to veto their bill due to the risk of potential business loss from the LGBTQ community,  and with rising voices opposing these bills, it shows that a powerful counterattack is influential and we must continue to fight this and every discrimination.